Luxury Cruising Editorial

This past week, I had the opportunity to be one of the first to step on board Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest cruise ship, Star of the Seas.

It was not a traditional sailing, Royal Caribbean invited me on board for a first look at this new ship ahead of its debut.  We sailed from Ponce, Puerto Rico to Port Canaveral at around 10% capacity.

I tell you that because it will help you understand as you read this article. If you hardly see anyone else in the photos, this is why.

Since the ship was two weeks away from its inaugural cruise, they were still putting the finishing touches on shows and entertainment.

After spending three days on Star of the Seas, here are my first impressions of this newest ship from Royal Caribbean.

Back to the Future The Musical

Back to the Future is one of my favorite movie trilogies of all time. Star of the Seas is the first cruise ship to feature Back to the Future The Musical.

They gave us a 20 minute preview of this new show and I sat right in the front row. All I can say is, WOW! Yes, there’s a DeLorean and it’s hand down one of the top shows I’ve seen on a cruise.

I’m not going to give away any spoilers and there was a no photo or video policy during our preview.

Those who know me know that I am not big on watching cruise shows, they just don’t personally interest me much. However, I would line up early to see Back to the Future on Star of the Seas, it was like I was right on the movie set.

The actor who played George McFly was absolutely incredible, he was a carbon copy of Crispin Glover in the trilogy.

Royal Caribbean also raised the bar for their ice skating show Sol in Absolute Zero. The acrobatic moves they incorporated at the end of the show had the crowd going wild.

Ship

You can take a photo tour of Star of the Seas below that we posted to our Cruise Fever Facebook page.

Since Star of the Seas is a sister ship to Icon of the Seas, they are very much alike. Royal Caribbean made a few changes but there’s no need to fix what isn’t broken.

Artwork around the ship is different and The AquaDome Market food court has new options that include a new Thai eatery.

Lincoln Park Supper Club has a 1930’s Chicago theme instead of a 1920s New York theme.

On the pool deck, the swings are gone and there’s now more loungers for cruisers to soak up the sun.

It’s such a great class of ship that there wasn’t a need to change much.

Surfside is such an awesome area for families and it has everything they need. They can stay here the entire day since it was a waterpark for kids, pools, several dining options and an arcade.

There really is something for everyone onboard Star of the Seas.

Crew

The crew on Star of the Seas delivered the same great service that Royal Caribbean always offers. One of the crew members remembered my name the day we were at CocoCay.

From my room steward to our waiter at Coastal Kitchen, I can’t say enough good things about them.

Cabin

I stayed in an Infinite Balcony stateroom on deck 9. This was my first time staying in one on Royal Caribbean (I have stayed in them on their sister cruise line Celebrity Cruises).

The more I stay in one of these cabins, the more I like them. I love the extra room you get because the “balcony” is now part of your cabin.

You also get the best view from your cabin since you have a floor to ceiling window with no obstructions. There is a curtain you can close to block out light and make the balcony area a separate space.

There was also a pretty roomy shower and plenty of power outlets.

Star of the Seas is currently offering a few shakedown cruises and will depart on its inaugural voyage on August 16, 2025. A shakedown cruise is a non-revenue voyage where Royal Caribbean invites travel agents, media, friends & family etc. so they can work out the kinks before paying passengers board.

The cruise ship will sail a few short cruises from Port Canaveral before launching into year-round, seven-night sailings from Port Canaveral. You can see itineraries and prices for cruises on the ship here.

The ship will also be christened on August 20 in Port Canaveral. I will be onboard for the christening ceremony so stay tuned as I bring you more on this newest ship from Royal Caribbean.

Carnival Cruise Line has announced that their next new ship, Carnival Festivale, will have a WaterWorks Ultra waterpark with six slides.

Carnival Festivale will sail from Port Canaveral starting in May 2027. Today, Carnival Cruise Line announced the first new details on the ship.

Sunsation Point

Carnival Festivale will be the first Excel class ship without a roller coaster. Carnival is building their largest waterpark ever and the most family-friendly waterpark at sea.

Sunsation Point will span decks 16-18 and be anchored by Carnival WaterWorks Ultra. It will have six waterslides including two innovative family raft rides, SunSoaker and Turning Tides.

Sunsation Point, as Carnival previously announced, will introduce the first nighttime WaterWorks operations. Activating the multi-deck zone with vibrant illumination and a live DJ, water park hours will be extended on special evenings for guests of all ages to enjoy more fun together.

Decks 17 and 18 take entertainment and adventure to the next level. Deck 17 is a place to rewind with nostalgic elements, including the Vault Retrocade, which combines retro charm with modern arcade games. The Scenic Overlook, a bar with breathtaking aft sunset views, TVs for sports, and outdoor games.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said the following about this new ship:

“Music is the universal language that brings families and friends together, and Carnival Festivale will amplify that unique connection. The experiences we’ll deliver will appeal to every generation. Everyone – no matter their age or interest – will find their rhythm on this ship.”

Studio 724

Studio 724 is a first-of-its-kind celebration of the creative music-making process. Through interactive experiences powered by technology, the vibrant zone reacts in real time to sound with synchronized lights and animations to capture the creative energy of mixing, recording, and listening to music, inviting guests to become part of the musical journey rather than simply observe it.

On Carnival Festivale, Alchemy Bar will offer an enhanced experience, with its own dedicated space adjacent to the atrium, and features an expanded lounge with a stage for live music performances. Already a celebration of music fleetwide, Carnival Festivale’s Piano Bar 88 will be right at home on Deck 6 as well.

At Mix Bar on Deck 7, guests can enjoy creatively named cocktails like the Synth and Hi-Fi, or craft their own unique drink by layering flavor “tracks” beneath a turntable-themed bar.

The Festival

The Festival on Deck 8 captures the authentic social atmosphere and energy of outdoor music festivals in a cruise ship setting.

In this zone, guests will find Festival Grounds Coffee & Bar, which anchors the space with specialty coffee creations and festival-inspired cocktails. Dynamic lighting and music shift the venue from an energetic daytime vibe to a mellow nighttime ambiance. Pizza Palooza delivers fresh pizzas, which Carnival guests know and love fleetwide as a quick bite that’s perfect for sharing among friends. Rhythm & Rolls Deli rounds out the casual dining options with gourmet sandwiches.

Carnival Festivale will feature 1,000 interconnecting rooms, nearly 70 percent more than on the first three Excel-class vessels.

The ship’s primary cruise schedule will offer a comprehensive selection of six- and eight-day Eastern and Southern Caribbean cruises. Itineraries feature destinations such as Amber Cove; San Juan; St. Thomas; St. Maarten; as well as the award-winning RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. All Carnival Festivale sailings will offer a visit to Celebration Key, Carnival’s newest exclusive destination on Grand Bahama.

Southern Caribbean sailings will also include the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

More than 50 cruises on Carnival Festivale are now open for bookings.

No one takes a cruise and purposely misses the ship, and yet it happens all too often.  As someone who likes to be back on the ship with plenty of time to spare, it’s hard for me to understand the mindset of a cruise guest who pushes the envelope and cuts it as close as possible.

A recent social media post highlighted just what regular cruisers think of the “no-shows”.  We all understand emergencies happen, and not being able to return back to the ship on time can happen to anyone.  But in most cases, it’s the obvious things that people fail to remember.

A cruise passenger on a Royal Caribbean ship in Jamaica took to Facebook to ask for help.  The post stated, “Help!!! I just got internet access. I missed the ship. What should I do?”

Then a reddit cruise community picked up the post, and with over 185 comments to the post, they didn’t hold back on what they thought of the situation.

One user even said, “”The first thing I’d be doing would not be asking for help on Facebook, goodness.”

According to one comment on our Facebook page the passenger had “one too many” and ended up falling asleep on the beach.

Read more: How to never get left behind on a cruise

The “Tough Love” From Other Cruisers

After reading through the comments, it was fairly obvious that many had little sympathy for the situation.  Most offered a reality check to the stranded passenger who was left behind after sailing on Oasis of the Seas.

Their reactions highlighted the core rules of cruising.

• The Planners: This group of cruisers expressed their disbelief that someone could miss the ship. As one Reddit user put it, “I still don’t understand how people can miss getting back on the boat. I mean I get how, just personally I could never. Too paranoid.“
• The “Rules”: For others, the issue was a clear violation of a fundamental cruising rule. Another user offered a simple mantra: “Rule 1: Don’t miss the boat Rule 2: Don’t fall off the boat. It’s that simple.”

 The Voice of Experience

Seasoned cruisers chimed in with practical, and also blunt, advice based on their own experiences and knowledge of cruising.

• The Logistics: Some commenters detailed the next steps for the passenger, focusing on the procedures the cruise line follows. They pointed out that the crew would likely remove some of the passenger’s belongings and passport, leaving them with the port agent. As one explained, “Their stuff was probably removed from the ship and their passport is with RCCLs agent there. They will need to fly to next port of call or home…. On their own dime.”  Others mentioned that only the passport and medications would be left with a port agent.
• The Passport: The importance of having travel documents was mentioned over and over again. Commenters stressed the difficulty of international travel without a valid passport.  And this is another reason why in most international ports you should just take it with you.  One user mentioned a scene they witnessed in Bermuda: “They were very dismayed to see their luggage on the pier and they ran over to speak with our ship’s crew who just directed them to the port agent.“

The passenger is responsible for any and all costs to meet up at the next port or fly home, depending on the situation.  These last minute travel plans can be very expensive, which is another reason we recommend having cruise travel insurance.

“It Could Happen to Anyone”

While the majority of responses leaned towards holding the passenger accountable, a few comments offered a more understanding perspective.  They admitted that sometimes stuff just happens that you never could plan for in a million years.

One user recalled, “I almost missed the boat a couple months ago coming back from a beach excursion because there was a double homicide on the route that had traffic backed up for miles.”

Another agreed, saying, “On our way back to the cruise port there was a major accident that shut down the road in both directions. We barely made it back to the ship on time. Just saying that some might be late for things they can’t control.”

The Bottom Line

Being on time is a big deal when it comes to cruising.  You might be late for everything back home, but you don’t want to carry that same mindset into your next vacation at sea.

As one user aptly put it, “Jamaica is the last place I‘d want to be left.”

While unforeseen events can happen, the primary responsibility lies with the passenger to be back on board before the scheduled departure time. The cruise community, it seems, has little patience for those who miss the ship, especially when it’s completely preventable in most situations.